Bookmark



June 13, 1967 R. J. PETERS 3,324,823

BOOKMARK Filed Oct. 34, 1965 flzjezz for fi'w arcizfoka v P2 5 United States Patent 3,324,823 BOOKMARK Richard Jonathan Peters, Chicago, Ill. (2625 Park Ave, Bridgeport, Conn. 06604) Filed Oct. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 504,612 Claims. (Cl. 116119) This invention relates to a bookmark. In its more specific aspect, this invention relates to a bookmarker set having a plurality of marker members for marking a book at a plurality of places.

In studying various textbooks and reference books, it is often desirable to mark the book at a plurality of places so that after the markers have been positioned in the book, the different references may be found readily and may be read in sequence. This procedure is often followed where the book is used for daily reading and in which portions of the book are read on succeeding days over an extended period of time.

It therefore is the object of this invention to provide, for such practice, a bookmark comprising a plurality of marker members for marking a plurality of pages, and the markers are removed separately and are interchange able.

It is another object of the invention to provide a marker for marking books with relative ease, and further to provide a marker exhibiting versatility in use.

These together with other objects and advantages of the present invention will best be understood by referring to the detailed specification and preferred embodiments thereof, and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a book having a bookmark embodying the present invention insertable between adjacent pages of the book;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the bookmark;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective View having bookmarks made in accordance with the invention inserta-ble between adjacent pages of the book, the bookmark illustrating a further modification;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a bookmark of the type shown in FIGURE 3 illustrating a still further modification; and

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal end view of a bookmark made in accordance with this invention and illustrating a further modification.

In general, the bookmark according to the present invention comprises a rectangular sheet formed of a flexible plastic material. The plastic sheet is provided with a matte finish or frosted finish on both faces to provide a Writing surface, but notwithstanding the matte treatment, the plastic sheet is still.sutiiciently transparent such that when the marker overlays a page of the book, the printing or other text materials on that page is readily visible to the reader. The size of the plastic sheet comprising the bookmark is not less than substantially the same size as the pages of the book being marked. The size and shape of the bookmark permits the marker to be positioned be tween adjacent pages of the book wherein the longitudinal edge rests in the gutter of the book. A tab bearing suitable indicia extends from the opposite longitudinal edge of the marker so as to project beyond the edge of the pages of the book thereby being readily observable to the reader. Where a plurality of bookmarks are employed in a single book, the tabs on the several markers are graduated or staggered sequentially such as in numerical or alphabetical order for rapid viewing.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, there is shown a book having the usual binding and a pair of covers 12 and leaves or pages 14. As shown 3,324,823 Patented June 13, 1967 in FIGURE 1, the book 10 is open, and bookmark 16, forming the subject of the present invention, is inserted between adjacent pages. The inwardly disposed longitudinal edge of bookmark 16 rests at the gutter of book 10, and the opposite longitudinal edge substantially coincides with the marginal edge of the page of the book. A tab or index 18 bearing a suitable indicia extends beyond the outwardly disposed longitudinal edge of bookmark 16 and protrudes beyond the marginal edge of pages 14 of book 10.

The bookmarker is formed of a flexible plastic material, and comprises a rectangular sheet having a size not less than substantially the same size as the page of the book. Where desired, the bookmark is provided with arcuate corners, such as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4. Flexible plastic sheet material is well known in the art, and may include, for example, polyvinyl or polyester films such as Mylar. The thickness of the plastic bookmark may range from about .0025 to .010 inch. The plastic sheet is provided with a matte finish or frosted finishes on both surfaces by conventional methods such as by casting the sheet on a rough surface to provide a suitable writing surface. However, when the bookmark overlays a page of the book, the marker is still sufiiciently transparent such that the text material or printed matter on the page is visible to the reader. Where the bookmark is raised from the page as shown in FIGURE 1, the printed matter is not readable. This structure is especially advantageous in that any conventional Writing instrument may be used for marking the matte finish surfaces of the bookmark. Thus, the matte finish surface may be inscribed, for example, with a pencil, crayon, ink pen or ballpoint pen, and the inscription may be subsequently erased. When the matte finish surfaces become smudged with inscriptions and erasures, the surfaces may be washed with a suitable soap or mild detergent. As a result, it is possible to inscribe brackets on the bookmark itself outlining the citation from the book which should be read or studied, or to make any desired notes on the bookmark, without inscribing on the actual pages of the book thereby increasing the beauty and life of the book. The text material is still readily visible to the reader.

One or both sides of tab 18 carries a number, letter or other suitable indicia so that the desired marker can be readily selected. Where a plurality of bookmarks are employed in marking a single book, the tabs are graduated and numbered in sequence for rapid viewing, such as shown in FIGURE 3. The ta-b may be cut integrally with the bookmark from a larger plastic sheet. Where desired, such as shown in FIGURE 4, the tab 20 may be formed as by molding, and then afiixed to the bookmark to be integral therewith.

The bookmark 16 is inserted at the desired places between the pages of the book with the tab 18 (or the tab 20) extending beyond the margin of the pages of the book. The opposite, inwardly disposed longitudinal edge of the bookmark rests in the gutter of the book between the adjacent pages, and because the size and shape of the bookmark is substantially the same size as the pages, or not less than the same size as the pages, the bookmark is securely held against shifting from its position.

There is shown in FIGURE 2 suitable friction means 22 which can be employed where desired for securing the bookmark in place. Preferably, the friction means comprises an adhesive extending on one or both faces of the bookmark along the longitudinal edge. Suitable adhesive compositions are Well known in the art, and generally comprise parafiin wax and synthetic plastic additives such as polyethylene or polyisobutylene to provide tack and are modified by a filler to prevent blocking. The adhesive should provide a minimum of tack to permit easy removal 3 of the marker from the book without tearing the pages of the book.

There is shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 a further modification of the present invention. Bookmark 16 is provided with a thicker portion 24 along the longitudinal edge laying at the gutter of the book. The width of the thicker portion is desirably such that when the bookmark is inserted between adjacent pages of the book, the thicker portion does not overlay printed matter appearing on the page. The thicker portion provides added strength to the bookmark at a place where needed, and may be formed by folding back the longitudinal edge of the flexible plastic sheet material and heat sealing or otherwise securing the fold. Recesses 26 are provided at opposite ends of the thicker portion, and the recesses preferably have a restricted opening 28 and a polygonal configuration, such as shown in FIGURE 4. A resilient member 30, for example a rubber band, is extended around the pages of the book adjacent the binding and between the pages and the covers. When bookmark 16 is inserted between adjacent pages, the recesses receive the rubber band, thereby securing the bookmark in place. The restricted opening 28 and polygonal shape having sharp corners of the recesses 26 help to retain the bookmark on the band and hold the marker against shifting from its position.

According to the modification shown in FIGURE 5, the top lateral edge of bookmark 16 is folded back at 32 to provide a narrow recess 34. When it is desired to mark a page in the book, the top of the page is inserted in fold 32 in recess 34, and the longitudinal edge of the bookmark rests in the gutter of the book, thereby securing the bookmark and holding it against shifting from its position.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A bookmbarker set for marking a book in a plurality of places for study in sequence, comprising a plurality of bookmarks each formed as a rectangular, flexible sheet from a plastic having a matte finish on both faces adaptable for inscribing and sufficiently transparent when overlaying a page of the book, said sheet for each of said bookmarks having a size not less than substantially the same size as the page of the book, each of said bookmarks adapted to be positioned between adjacent pages of the book with the inwardly disposed longitudinal edge of said bookmark positioned at the gutter of the book, and a tab extending from the opposite longitudinal edge of each of said bookmarks to project beyond the marginal edge of the page of the book thereby being visible, said tabs graduated to provide rapid viewing of the tabs.

2. A bookmarker set for marking a book in a plurality of places for studying in sequence comprising a plurality of bookmarks each formed as a rectangular, flexible sheet from plastic having a matte finish on both faces adaptable for inscribing and sufiiciently transparent when overlaying a page of the book, the lateral dimension of each of said bookmarks being substantially the same as the width of the pages of the book and the longitudinal dimension of each of said bookmarks exceeding the length of the pages of the book, each of said bookmarks adapted to be positioned between adjacent pages of the book with the inwardly disposed longitudinaledge of each of said bookmarks positioned at the gutter of the book and the opposite, outwardly dis osed longitudinal edge substantially coinciding with the marginal edges of the pages of the book, opposed recesses provided adjacent the inwardly disposed longitudinal edge adaptable to receive a resilient retention member, and a tab extending from the outward- 1y disposed longitudinal edge of each of said bookmarks to project beyond the marginal edge of the pages of the book thereby being visible, said tabs being graduated to provide rapid viewing of the tabs.

3. A bookmarker set for marking a book in a plurality of places for studying in sequence comprising a plurality of bookmarks each formed as a rectangular, flexible sheet from plastic having a matte finish on both faces adaptable for inSCIi bing and suificiently transparent when overlaying a page of the book, the lateral dimension of each of said bookmarks being substantially the same as the width of the pages of the book and the longitudinal dimension of each of said bookmarks exceeding the length of the pages of the book, each of said bookmarks adapted to be positioned between adjacent pages of the book with the inwardly disposed longitudinal edge of each of said bookmarks positioned at the gutter of the book and the opposite, outwardly disposed longitudinal edge substantially coinciding with the marginal edges of the pages of the book, a thicker'portion provided along the inwardly disposed longitudinal edge of each of said bookmarks extending substantially the longitudinal dimension of said longitudinal edge, the width of said thicker portion being such as not to overlay printed matter appearing on the pages of the book, a resilient member extending around all pages between covers of the book and adjacent the binding of the book, opposed recesses provided adjacent the inwardly disposed longitudinal edge of each of said bookmarks, said recesses having a restricted opening and a polygonal configuration adaptable to receive said resilient member, and a tab extending from the outwardly disposed longitudinal edge of each of said bookmarks to project beyond the marginal edge of the pages of the book thereby being visible, said tabs graduated to provide rapid viewing of the tabs.

4. A bookmarker set according to claim 1 wherein said bookmarks are provided with an adhesive strip applied along the inwardly disposed longitudinal edge.

5. A bookmarker set according to claim 1 wherein for each of said bookmarks the top lateral edge is provided with a backwardly disposed fold, and the top of the page is insertable in said fold.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 785,465 3/1905 Armijo 129-167 1,056,997 3/1913 Jacobs 116-119 1,084,665 1/1914 Sheldon 1161 19 1,294,948 2/1919 Rand 12916.8 2,189,180 2/1940 Rathsam 116l19 2,435,221 2/1948 Jones 12916.8 2,510,053 6/1950 Pfeifier 281-42 2,590,615 3/1952 Heckendorn 116--1 19 2,717,572 9/1955 Kingman 1l6119 LOUIS J. CAPOZI, Primary Examiner. 

1. A BOOKMARKER SET FOR MARKING A BOOK IN A PLURALITY OF PLACES FOR STUDY IN SEQUENCE, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF BOOKMARKS EACH FORMED AS A RECTANGULAR, FLEXIBLE SHEET FROM A PLASTIC HAVING A MATTE FINISH ON BOTH FACES ADAPTABLE FOR INSCRIBING AND SUFFICIENTLY TRANSPARENT WHEN OVERLAYING A PAGE OF THE BOOK, SAID SHEET FOR EACH OF SAID BOOKMARKS HAVING A SIZE NOT LESS THAN SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME SIZE AS THE PAGE OF THE BOOK, EACH OF SAID BOOKMARKS ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED BETWEEN ADJACENT PAGES OF THE BOOK WITH THE INWARDLY DISPOSED LONGITUDINAL EDGE OF SAID BOOKMARK POSITIONED AT THE GUTTER OF THE BOOK, AND A TAB EXTENDING FROM THE OPPOSITE LONGITUDINAL EDGE OF EACH OF SAID BOOKMARKS TO PROJECT BEYOND THE MARGINAL EDGE OF THE PAGE OF THE BOOK THEREBY BEING VISIBLE, SAID TABS GRADUATED TO PROVIDE RAPID VIEWING OF THE TABS. 